Tag Archives: new music

Latin funk band aims to record seven songs plus covers, and issue new music

Hialeah, FL – August 20, 2018 – If lucky and good, there aren’t many things a band around for 11 years doesn’t get to do or see. ElectricPiquete has twice been named “Best Latin Band” by the MiamiNewTimes, garnered much local press, been featured on regional and national news media, played countless high profile (and crappy) gigs, joined the music festival circuit, and even tangled with Hurricane Matthew.

There are however, three glaring items on the Hialeah-based Latin funk / fusion band’s bucket list: release a full-length collection, issue music on vinyl, and run a successful crowd-funding campaign. They intend to do all three in one shot. Those interested in contributing to the cause on Indiegogo and accessing the available perks should navigate here: http://bit.ly/EPIGG.

“I’ve been itching to get back into the studio for a long time now, and this campaign is certainly going to facilitate that,” says Michael Mut, co-founder, bassist and band leader. “It’s only fitting to issue the music on vinyl, as that seems to be the only format that is selling these days. We are really excited about the new material, and are grateful for any support our family, friends and fans can offer. We invite everyone to check out the perks we have available.”

The band is offering everything from Skype instrument, theory and social media lessons, to autographed drum heads and set lists, to private performances; perks start at $15. They’ve even put longtime friend and producer FernyCoipel up for the taking – for $150, you can have him drive to your location anywhere in the tri-county area, and have him make you Cuban coffee while serenading you with the classic Charanga 76 tune “El Café de Hialeah”. In a skirt. The featured perk is the “EP tee & CD package”, which is available for $40.

Electric Piquete’s music has been licensed by Lexus, featured in the Emmy-winning JoeCardona documentary Miami Boheme, and on an episode of CNNGo. The band is a veritable melting pot of influences that range from rock to jazz and spiced with everything in between: funk, fusion, old-school salsa, progressive and R&B. Though mostly instrumental, they feature vocals with three-part harmonies and rapping on several numbers.

The bulk of the new material is newly-penned and relatively-new tracks, with a couple of hold-overs from previous recording sessions. There are plans to record a couple of signature cover tunes. In 2016, they issued the Singles Collection, which encapsulated the group’s most recent and noteworthy works. Last year a live version of the relatively new track “Chunk” surfaced on the band’s Soundcloudpage.

Electric Piquete also features co-founder EdRosado on drums, ChrisCorreoso (guitar), and RichDixon on trumpet and flugelhorn. The band’s sound is currently augmented by RaymondAyala on percussion and vocals, CharlesGardner on keyboards, and RobertSmiley on tenor sax and flute. Occasionally, the band features special guests Damian J.Sanchez on saxophones and flute, MacoMonthervil on vocals, and JoseMiranda on trombone.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Electric Piquete Releases New Single “Cut Me Loose”

New funk / soul track a collaboration with singer-songwriter Maco Monthervil, concept video in production

Hialeah, FL – July 26, 2016 – Today, Electric Piquete, two-time Miami New Times “Best Latin Band” award winners, released a new single called “Cut Me Loose”. It features the vocals of South Florida-based Maco Monthervil, one-half of the disbanded garage / soul duo The Lovers Key, and is now streaming on Spotify and is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.com. The song is part of the band’s new “Singles Collection” release, which complies the six tracks issued individually during the last five years.

The track is a mid-tempo funk / soul number, composed and arranged by the band, and featuring the vocal melody and lyrics by Monthervil. Performance credits include: drummer and band co-founder EdRosado on drums and percussion, bassist / co-founder MichaelMut on bass, ChrisCorreoso – guitar, RichDixon, trumpet, and special guests RaymondAyala (congas), Charles “Chip” Gardner on keyboards, and RobertSmiley on tenor sax. Rosado earned a co-production credit; Mut one for executive production.

“Cut Me Loose” was recorded from December 2015 through June 2016 at RedDoorStudios in Little Haiti and co-produced by JoseElias (SpamAllstars, the NagChampayons, Cortadito). The song was mixed and mastered by FernyCoipel (I Don’t Know, Humbert) at the Shack North Studios in Hialeah. Coipel has previously worked with the band, both in the studio recording, mixing and producing Electric Piquete’s 2011 self-titled debut, and as live sound engineer.

The band is currently working on a video for the single, under the direction of Gary Pettigrew from the Sunrise, FL-based production company Rush Media Studios. Pettigrew has done video production for EricaMena and the IntroMusicGroup, and was mentored by J. Jesses Smith, who directed Breathe, produced Before I Self Destruct, and produced music videos for 50 Cent, Erick Sermon, DMX, Eve, Akon, Bizzy Bone and others.

The video will show clips of the band live and in studio, intermingled with a concept about Maco realizing his potential as an independent creative force. It will celebrate themes of individuality, freedom of expression, diversity and respect for all. The band, vocalist and video producer / director will be celebrating the release of the song and video Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Ball & Chain (1513 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33135) during the August edition of the band’s monthly residency called #PiqueteSessions.

Electric Piquete is probably best known for its fiery originals and inventive interpretations of Latin and jazz standards. A powerfully-tight drums / bass / guitar / keys rhythm section sets the groove for an incendiary horn section, taking listeners on an Afro-Caribbean journey of sound. The band features drummer / vocalist EdRosado, bassist / vocalist MichaelMut, ChrisCorreoso on guitar, RichDixon on trumpet and flugelhorn, RaymondAyala on congas, ChipGardner on keyboards, RobertSmiley on tenor sax, and occasionally, JoseMiranda on trombone and MacoMonthervil, lead vocals.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jim Camacho’s “Make It to the Morning Light” Single to Benefit Switchboard of Miami and Paws4You

New video features powerful, life-affirming message and the artist’s adopted dog

Miami, FL – March 16, 2015 – Miami singer – songwriter Jim Camacho celebrated the release of his new video “Make It to the Morning Light” with a special performance last week in Fort Lauderdale. Camacho is now offering the single as a downloadable mp3 through his Bandcamp page. Fans can receive it in exchange for a donation that will be split equally between the Switchboard of Miami, which is well-known in the community for expertise in the field of suicide prevention, and Paws 4 You, a local pet rescue and adoption service. Both organizations are registered 501(c)3 non-profits. Those interested in donating / downloading should navigate here: http://bit.ly/JCMMITTML.

Inspired by the beautiful mountain scenery of Giant’s Castle and his interaction with friendly locals while in South Africa recently, Camacho wrote and begin recording the track in Africa, and subsequent recording was done in Miami at Jim’s home studio and in Los Angeles at Fernando Perdomo‘s (Jakob Dylan /Emitt Rhodes) Reseda Ranch Studios and at JasonHann‘s (String Cheese Incident / EOTO) Bopland Studio. It is Jim’s third single in just over a year and represents new musical territory for Jim: world music. African drums and percussion are a prominent part of the song’s rhythm track.

Lyrically, the song brims with positivity, forgiveness and grace, the main take-away being one of hope. Here he blends his sharp pop sensibilities superbly with the emotional elements that surrounded him at the time. The tune is a sort of call to people in despair to just try to “make it to the morning light.” The miracle of morning, and the solitude combined with the beauty of first light, is symbolic of acceptance and survival. Right after writing the song, Jim was shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Robin Williams and made him feel an even greater desire to get the song completed and released.

Shot in South Miami and in the historic MiMo District of Miami, the video for “Make It to the Morning Light” was filmed and directed by Juan Davila (2Way Creative) and produced by Annie Fernandez. It follows the desperate plight of a young woman played by Michelle Grand (Ex-Norwegian), and an abusive homeless dog owner (Camacho’s friend and frequent collaborator Alex Porro) and the positive, even life-saving effects that our four-legged friends can have on us. Jim’s dog Rudy also plays an important role in the video. Camacho recently adopted another pet dog Marshmallow from Paws 4 You.

The track features Jim on lead vocals, bass, acoustic guitar and toy piano, his brother JohnCamacho on background vocals, Perdomo on electric, slide and acoustic guitar, and organ, and Hann on drums and percussion. The video release was properly feted at the Culture Room during an opening slot for the legendary Denny Laine (The Moody Blues, Paul McCartney and Wings) March 10.

Camacho will be returning to the U.K. to promote the new single this week. He will first appear on the Tony Moore’s Musical Emporium show which is broadcast on SoHo Radio Saturday, March 19, 7 – 9 a.m. EST, and then perform at the The Bedford Liveon Monday, March 21, 3:30 p.m. EST. Both engagements will be streamed live on the web.

ABOUT JIM CAMACHO
Miami native Jim Camacho’s solo career has seen him release five collections of songs, including Stalker Songs, which earned a Gold Remi award in the Music Video category at the 40th Annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival for the song titled “Houdini.” His material garnered “Best Acoustic Performer” (2005) and “Best Album” (2009 for Beachfront Defeat) honors from the MiamiNewTimes. The Broward Palm Beach New Times called Everywhere one of the top albums of 2013. He’s toured with JohnLegend and LindaPerhacs.

Last year, Jim released two singles: “Ophelia” in February and “Please Come Home” in July. In 2016, he will issue a virtual split 7” single with singer / songwriter Rob Elba (Holy Terrors / Shark Valley Sisters); more singles are in the works, as is a return visit to the UK.

Camacho has also become prolific at writing musicals and scoring children’s theater productions. His initial foray into the realm began with Fools’Paradise, which was directed and choreographed by the acclaimed Jonathan Cerullo. The show ran as a full production in Miami and played to sold out workshops in New York. Next, he co-wrote and scored Guru, which premiered in Miami, scored Mickey Herman Saves the $#&@ World, which premiered at the Adrienne Arsht Center, wrote the book and music for The Cavie Islanders and the Troll and The Guruof Gir.

He has collaborated with Sesame Street and Disney veteran Noel MacNeal on Who Put the Trick in Trick or Treat: Tales of Amazing Tricksters, Beasts of the Magical World, and The Carnival of Extraordinary Animals – all of which enjoyed runs during the “Boo at the Zoo” at the Bronx Zoo 2012-2014. In 2015, Camacho premiered Digging for Bones, a musical about a group of time-travelling paleontologists and a friendly T-Rex dinosaur skeleton, and enjoyed a third successful run of a collaboration with MacNeal, Mouse King, which has become a new South Florida holiday tradition, enjoying multiple sell out performances.

Camacho co-founded and led the standout group The Goods, which was active during the 1990s, worked with legendary producer TomDowd, won the prestigious “Album of the Year” FloridaJammy award and topped the Billboard Florida Radio & Record charts with their single “I’m Not Average”. Their high-energy live show, outstanding musicianship and relentless touring led them to sign a recording contract with Polygram Records and be featured in a VH1 documentary. The Goods shared the stage with Pearl Jam, The Smithereens, Cracker and MatthewSweet, among others.

Jim Camacho Releases “Please Come Home” Single and Video July 28

New song, a lyrical and sonic gem, captures Camacho’s expertise at songwriting and recording

Miami, FL – July 28, 2015 – One of Miami’s premier singer/songwriters JimCamacho has independently issued a new adult alternative single called “Please Come Home”. An acoustic guitar-driven Americana song co-written by Camacho, JodiMarr and GeorgeNoriega , and co-produced with Fernando Perdomo, the new single reflects a slide towards country music. The production has a timeless feel reminiscent of the Eagles or BruceSpringsteen. The track is now available as a download on iTunesand can be streamed on Spotify.

The song was recorded and co-produced by frequent collaborator and L.A.-based musician / multi-instrumentalistPerdomo at his Reseda Ranch Studios and Capitol Studios during Camacho’s spring 2014 tour of the Northwest and West Coast. Camacho sings lead vocals and plays acoustic and bass guitar. Perdomo handles electric, slide and acoustic guitar and organ, in addition to handling production duties. Jordan Welch is featured on drums and percussion, John Camacho contributes backing vocals and ShariefHobley, who’s worked with JohnLegend and RufusWainwright, among others, contributes electric guitar parts. The track was mixed by CharlesDye and mastered by RyanSmith.

The opening lyric “Some call it madness, some call it love,” sets the tone of this romantic song about forgiveness. “Maybe she’ll leave me, it’s what I deserve, or maybe she’ll keep me for better or worse” – these lines demonstrate a simplicity embedded with barroom wisdom and a relatable story. Jim’s vocal delivery is convincing and impassioned. The slide guitar mimics the pedal steel guitars heard in country-flavored music; they serve to provide a soft bed for the other sounds to lie in and widen the song’s appeal.

The video, directed by Juan Davila and produced by Annie Fernandez, stars local chanteuse Samantha D’Giff and features cameo appearances by FritzDorigo (Crease), FernyCoipel (Humbert) and Alex Ibanez (Price) as Jim’s band. Shot at the now-defunct venue The Stage Miami and at Copiel’s Shack North Annex studio, the video is brilliantly edited and deftly tells the story of the song. It can be viewed on Jim’s YouTube page.

Coming off a well-received, sold-out debut at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center earlier this month, Camacho’s next move is to perform as part of the Mad Cat Theater Company’s production of RAM by Paul and LindaMcCartney Friday, July 31 and Saturday August 1, 2015 at the Miami Theater Company. Tickets are available online here: http://bit.ly/MadCatRAM.

Miami native Jim Camacho co-founded and led the standout group The Goods, which was active during the 1990s, worked with legendary producer TomDowd, won the prestigious “Album of the Year” FloridaJammy award and topped the Billboard Florida Radio & Record charts with their single “I’m Not Average”. Their high-energy live show, outstanding musicianship and relentless touring led them to sign a recording contract with Polygram Records and be featured in a VH1 documentary. The Goods shared the stage with Pearl Jam, The Smithereens, Cracker and MatthewSweet, among others.

His solo career has seen him release five collections of songs, including 2005’s Stalker Songs, which earned a Gold Remi award in the Music Video category at the 40th Annual WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival for the song titled “Houdini.” His material garnered “Best Acoustic Performer” (2005) and “Best Album” (2009 for Beachfront Defeat) honors from the MiamiNewTimes. The Broward Palm Beach New Times called Everywhere one of the top albums of 2013.

In addition, Camacho’s music was featured in the Grammy-nominated Tom Dowd & the Language of Music documentary, in National Lampoon’s movie Pledge This, and the documentary Fatboy, which was nominated for “Best Use of Music in a Documentary” accolades at the Sundance Film Festival. His song “I Don’t Need You Anymore” (also from BeachfrontDefeat) was featured prominently in the soundtrack for the hit ABC family show Pretty Little Liars. Jim has played at Radio CityMusicHall, the KodakTheater and MirageHotel, toured with AliciaKeys and JohnLegend as guitarist and musical director for the solo artist Zascha Moktan.

As a solo artist, he toured the west coast with folk legend LindaPerhacs and played a string of dates in the U.K. in 2014; Jim also laid down tracks at Capitol Records’ vaunted L.A. recording studio for a series of singles. In 2015, Camacho enjoyed a sell-out homecoming show at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center.

Camacho has also become prolific at writing musicals and scoring children’s theater productions. His initial foray into the realm began with Fools’Paradise, which was directed and choreographed by the acclaimed Jonathan Cerullo. The show ran as a full production in Miami and played to sold out workshops in New York. Next, he co-wrote and scored Guru, which premiered in Miami, scored Mickey Herman Saves the $#&@ World, which premiered at the Adrienne Arsht Center, wrote the book and music for The Cavie Islanders and the Troll and The Guruof Gir.

He has collaborated with Sesame Street veteran Noel MacNeal on Who Put the Trick in Trick or Treat: Tales of Amazing Tricksters, Beasts of the Magical World, and The Carnival of Extraordinary Animals – all of which enjoyed runs during the “Boo at the Zoo” at the Bronx Zoo 2012-2014. Another collaboration with MacNeal, Mouse King, has become a new South Florida holiday tradition and will run for a third consecutive year this December. This year, Camacho premiered Digging for Bones, a musical about a group of time-travelling paleontologists and a friendly T-Rex dinosaur skeleton.